Whispers in the Records

Debra Deetz

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reporter Julia Wright grew up in Maple Bay and has returned to her hometown to find peace and tranquillity. After a professor mysteriously vanished, Julia (who now works for the local paper) begins to investigate his disappearance. Little did she know that she would be digging up secrets that could destroy her family and the town.

 

This cozy mystery has a somber tone that fits this storyline. It keeps the reader on their toes as the story spirals to its climax. If you’re into conspiracies and long-hidden secrets, this is the book for you.

*I received a free ARC from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sweet Tea and Seaside Suspicion

Sweet Tea and Seaside Suspicion: A Harper Skye Deliciously Addictive Cozy Mystery 

Lyla Ashton

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

After the death of her husband, Harper moves to the seaside town of Haven Point with her dog, Chandler Bing, to renovate and run a bed and breakfast. While inspecting the property, she finds a dead body floating by her dock. This opens the door to a mystery that runs deep through the whole town. With the help of her new friends Luke, Sam and Agnes, she uncovers several suspects within the community. It’s up to these amateur detectives to find out who killed Rhett and why.

I will admit that I struggled with this book. I thought the plot was good, but felt the story got bogged down with too many details and descriptions. The plot had a heavier feeling to it than many cozy mysteries, but that is not necessarily a bad thing, just my observation. There are a lot of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. I think many mystery readers would enjoy this book.

*I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bingo and a Body

Bingo and a Body (A Sherlock Paws Cozy Mystery)

Kit Sterling

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who would have thought that a game of Bingo could turn deadly. Local bookshop owner and amateur sleuth, Molly, joins forces with her best friend Sam, the ladies of the Koffee Klatch and of course, her beloved dog Sherlock to solve the mysterious murder of Hazel Crump. Will they find the culprit before the killer makes their next move?

Bingo and a Body is a fast-paced, entertaining mystery that keeps you on your toes. The story contains fun and quirky characters and is a smooth read. Definitely kept my attention all the way through. I’d recommend it to other readers who enjoy this genre.

*I received an ARC copy from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Murder at the Bee Farm

Murder at the Bee Farm (Sunny Honey B&B Cozy #1)

Sue Hollowell

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Murder at the Bee Farm” is the first book in the Sunny Honey B&B Cozy series. The main character, Moxie Rayburn, moved back to her Grandmother’s B&B after finding out her ex-boyfriend had been cheating on her. As she is getting settled into her new life of being a night clerk at the B&B, a murder occurs at the nearby bee farm. Both she and her ex have ties to the victim and both are being investigated by the local police. Moxie begins to investigate to clear both her and Chase’s name. Will she be able to find the killer before it’s too late?

This cozy mystery is a fast read and the ending twist comes out of nowhere. The author does a nice job in her descriptions of the characters and surrounding in the story. To me, it made it easier to picture the scenes and get to know the people from Honeyridge Falls. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy clean, cozy mysteries.

Death By The Orchard

Death By The Orchard: A Quiet Town Mystery Book 3 (expected publishing date 5/24/25)

Bia Brown

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emily Greene travels to the quaint town of Julian to be a public health inspector at their annual Apple Day celebration. What was supposed to be a fun event turns deadly when two townspeople are murdered. Emily teams up with the ghost of Kaius Freeman, one of Julian’s original founders, to investigate the crimes. Can they find the culprit before someone else meets an untimely death?

“Death By The Orchard” is a fun, fast read that kept me on my toes. I honestly did not figure out the culprit until the very end. When I started reading this book, I did not realize it was going to have a supernatural essence. But I feel that element added to the intrigue. I would recommend this book to other readers who enjoy the cozy mystery genre.

*I received an ARC from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Blueprint For Madness

Blueprint For Madness: A Psychological Thriller 

Rose Majors

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Blueprint For Madness” is the sequel to “The Spiral Symbol” (which I have not read yet). Even though it is the 2nd book in the series, the story definitely stands on its own. Kitty Forest is an FBI agent tracking down the elusive Architect, the man who is behind the development of super soldiers. Unbeknownst to the Architect, his right-hand man, Sebastian Donald, wants to take over and use these perfect killers for personal gain. This book takes the unique approach or telling the story through the point of view of both Sebastian and Kitty. This is usually not my type of read, however once I started, I finished it in one afternoon. The plot was intriguing and I feel the author really pulls the reader in. This is definitely worth the read.

*I received a free copy of this book from the author and BookSprout. All opinions of the book are my own.

A Spoonful of Deceit

A Spoonful of Deceit: A Cozy Mystery of Forged Heirlooms and Small Town Whispers

Alsie Hunter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In Maplewood Hollow, antique spoons have been replaced with duplicates and the the owner, Ivy, falls under a cloud of suspicion. Magda Lane, antique Authenticator, teams with Ivy to find the real culprit and the reason behind the forgery. There are plenty of red herrings throughout the story and even a mystery man who smells of lemon oil, lurking in the shadows.

A Spoonful of Deceit is an entertaining read that sustains the reader’s attention. It was hard to put down because I really wanted to find out who was responsible for the crime.  I believe that this is the second book in the series and even though there were some references that may have tied into the first book, I feel this story stands on its own.

*I received an ARC from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Baited for Murder

Baited For Murder: A Whisper Ridge Cozy Mystery

 Maisie Diamond

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Baited For Murder” begins with a mysterious death at an ice fishing competition at Whisper Ridge. The sheriff believes it was accidental but reporter Sophie Maxwell thinks it’s murder. Sophie and retired police officer Charles along with her border collie Cooper, dig deeper and find a complicated conspiracy that may destroy the town.

This story has many twists and turns, but sometimes it feels convoluted and confusing. The plot was interesting but I’m not sure how many times the reader wants to read about Cooper sniffing out a clue, Sophie blindly chasing after him and Charles coming to the rescue. I know there are readers that will really enjoy this book, it honestly wasn’t one of my favorites.

*I received an ARC from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Murder and Memories

Murder and Memories: A Maggie Wright Cozy Mystery (Book 3)

Tessa Aura

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I began this book, I was unaware that it was the this was the third book in a series. I was pretty lost at first, but the plot caught my attention and I really got into the story. There were still a lot of holes and things I felt I missed because I had not read the first two books. The main characters, Maggie, Harper and Biscuit (Maggie’s emotional support dog) are trying to solve a murder that is connected to Maggie’s past….a past that she doesn’t remember. As some of her memories come back, she finds herself in danger from the person behind the murder(s). I would definitely recommend this book to other cozy readers with the caveat that they start at the beginning of the series as to have a better understanding of the plot.

*I received an ARC from the author and BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own.

United States of True Crime: Colorado (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Ashley Hudson

Though Colorado has had some high profile cases (Jon Benet Ramsey and Columbine to name a few), the author chooses to cover ten lesser known cases. Hudson reports the basic facts about cases ranging from the late 1800’s to present day. I felt that the book was easy to read and provided interesting insights to each story. I think that true crime readers would enjoy reading this book.

Murder at the Oddity Shop

Arden Gray

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story begins with Emmy inheriting a thrift shop that’s in the middle of nowhere from her aunt. The day she arrives at Hope Springs, she finds a body on the porch of the Oddity Shop. From there, Emmy becomes involved in the mysterious circumstances of the man’s death and meets several quirky residents of the area. By the end of the book, most of the puzzle pieces fall into place but there is still one mystery to be solved (no spoilers here!)

Gray does a nice job of setting the scene and developing some interesting characters that lead Emmy on a twisted path to the killer. There were a couple of scenes that felt a little drawn out, but overall, I think this is decent read for cosy mystery fans.

*I received a free copy of this book from BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own .

Murder at Alba Lodge

Murder at Alba Lodge: A Maine Vacation Cozy Mystery Novella

Etta True

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Adri Foster has a busy life. She is a middle school music teacher who takes care of her aging parents. On a school break, she travels to Alba Lodge for some rest and relaxation and to help her sister (the owner) out for the week. Little did she know that she would  be walking into a murder investigation. There seems to be several viable suspects and many twists and turns before the killer is revealed. The only negative I have about this book is that there is very little law enforcement involvement in this case, which strikes me as a bit unrealistic. Other than that, I enjoyed this story. This is a novella (107 pages) and is a fast read. I would recommend this book to cozy mystery readers.

*I received this book free through BookFunnel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice

Robert Hilland and John Edward (Expected publication date-September 2, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Chasing Evil” is a captivating true crime story based on cases from Robert Hilland’s FBI career and his collaboration with psychic John Edward. In the beginning, Hilland was a skeptic and felt that psychics were frauds. But as the two worked together on cases, they forged a professional on personal bond. As most true crime stories, the subject matter can be dark, but this book was fast-paced and kept my attention from start to finish. No matter whether you are a believer or a skeptic, “Chasing Evil” is a must-read for true crime lovers.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions of this book are my own.

Swiss Secrets

Swiss Secrets: A Deliciously Unputdownable Cozy Mystery

Hazel Smith

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first book that I have read from this series. Ivy and her friends Elise, Kat and Moira are on a girls vacation in Switzerland. On their last day, a snowstorm hits the chalet and knocks out electricity and wi-fi, leaving them trapped. Then, the manager is mysteriously murdered. The friends take it upon themselves to figure out who the killer is before it’s too late. This book had many plot twists and kept me guessing until the amazing and surprising reveal. It was hard to put down and I finished it in a day. I think many cozy mystery readers will enjoy this book.

*I received a free copy of this book from BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Locked in a Lighthouse

Cass Landri

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Locked in a Lighthouse” is the third book of the Sam Baker series by Cass Landri. Sam and her friends (and Diggy) join a small group for a tour of a historic lighthouse that supposedly contains a hidden treasure. A storm caused a landslide which traps the group in the lighthouse. If that didn’t cause enough chaos, one of the group members suddenly and mysteriously passes away. The characters go on to try to answer 3 questions: Is there a hidden treasure, how to get out of the lighthouse and who is the murderer?

When I started this book, I did not realize it was part of a series. I felt that there was a lack in character development, but realized that issue may have been moot had I read the first two books. The storyline itself is stand alone and interesting. However, at times it felt like the same scene was being played over and over, just in a different context. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and will probably go back and read the first two books. I would rate it 3.5 stars if .5 ratings were an option.

*I received a free copy of this book from BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Murder and Grits

Murder and Grits (Piper Sandstone Savory Mystery #1)

Karen McSpade

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I started reading “Murder and Grits”, I did not realize that the complete story was broken up into 5 books and this book would end with a cliffhanger. That being said, I enjoyed the fast pace of the plot and its quirky characters. It’s a very quick read that leaves you wanting more. I definitely am looking forward to reading more about Piper’s adventures and seeing how the storyline resolves.

*I received a free copy of this book from BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Hash Browns and Homicide

Hash Browns and Homicide (Piper Sandstone Savory Mystery #0)

Karen McSpade

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hash Browns and Homicide is a quick-moving prequel (Piper Sandstone Savory Mysteries) to introduce the character of Piper Sandstone and explains how she went from being a Chicago detective to a waitress in Alabama. It’s a pretty fast read and whets the readers’ whistles for the next book. She even includes a recipe for savory hash brown potato casserole that sounds yummy!

*I received a free copy of this book from BookFunnel. All opinions of this book are my own.

Mysteries of the National Parks

Mysteries of the National Parks: 35 Stories of Baffling Disappearances, Unexplained Phenomena, and More

Mike Bezemek (Expected publication date-May 6, 2025)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I was very excited to read it because I am a lover of our country’s National Park System (NPS) and have visited several of the sites. The book contains 35 stories that are related to different NPS sites. The stories range from the mystery of the Upheaval Dome formation (Canyonlands National Park, Utah) to a US Airforce pilot’s disappearance in Kings Canyon National Park and everything in between. Some of the events the author wrote about are well known (Abraham Lincoln’s assassination) while others are lesser known (the disappearance of the crew of an L-8 blimp). Each chapter also has snippets of information about the featured parks. Since each chapter focused on a different mystery, it was easy to set it down and pick it back up without any issues. I will admit that some stories grabbed at me more than others.  Overall, I enjoyed this book and think other fans of NPS will find it interesting.

The Devil Behind the Badge

The Devil Behind the Badge: The Horrifying Twelve Days of the Border Patrol Serial Killer

Rick Jervis

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is a gripping story about a serial killer who turns out to be a Texas Border Patrol officer. Jarvis delves into the lives of not only the killer, but also each of his victims. I appreciate how the author showed the human side of the victims. Too many times, they are marginalized because of their circumstances. The story is well written and compelling. As difficult as the subject matter is, this is a good read for those who like true crime.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions of this book are my own.

The Mother Next Door

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy

Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Munchausen by proxy (MBP) is a complicated and often misunderstood syndrome. The authors of this book do an excellent job of explaining MBP to laypeople. It is a compelling read that uses three authentic cases of MBP that Mike Weber (co-author) was involved in during his tenure as a Texas detective. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about this phenomenon.

*I received a ARC from NetGalley. All opinions of this book are my own.